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Lingulini v. Cynikka
“Lingulini is an honest man, a hard working citizen in our community. This man does whatever he can to make sure that him and his family have a place to come home to. Him and his family own a humble pop and pop restaurant that has been running for 10 years. The plaintiff claims that him and his family are conducting suspicious activity on her property but today I will prove that this man isn’t what she claims him to be.”
“Court dismissed,” Judge Ish says before hitting the gavel twice on the sound block.
Schpood stands in the park outside of the courthouse, looking off into the distance. Lingulini paces in front of him, panicking and trying to get some kind of-any kind of support from Schpood. “..I can’t even afford what she’s asking me for..” Lingulini puts his palms together and begins to recite a prayer to himself at an impressive speed. Schpood’s attention flies back to the poor man who was his client, only after the pigeon hanging out near the benches got scared away by a passerby and never ended up getting that loose tomato slice..Damn..
“Wait were you saying something?” Lingulini looks at him offended.
“I don’t know what to tell my family, they’re going to be devastated, I mean,” Lingulini leans closer to Schpood’s ear, he looks left and right, and cuffs his mouth , “we did do some not so great business in there but how could she even know.”
“Well whatever it is it’s outside of my reach, I’m sorry Lingulini but I’m not a detective.”
“But you could be, you’re a sort of charismatic guy Schpood, with that kind of charm I think you can get anything out of anyone! I mean you convinced me that you’d help me win the case.”
Schpood doesn't acknowledge the backhanded complement. “Oh you’re too kind, I am very charismatic, but I’m not an investigator, just a lawyer.”
“You dislike Cynikka as much as I do-”
“Well I don’t mind her—I don’t hate her but I do think she’s a bit.. y’know,” Schpood gestures vaguely, Lingulini doesn’t entirely get what he’s talking about but he knows what he thinks of Cynikka. “If I do this what do I get out of it?”
“2.5k, and more depending on what you find.”
“That’s all you needed to say. Deal!” Schpood holds a hand out, and Lingulini shakes it.
Schpood stands at Cynikka’s doorstep, holding a little gift box, just to get on her good side. He knocks on the door instead of using the doorknocker. Three loud knocks. Cynikka opens the door, her expression shifts from happy to serious in an instant. “Schpood, what brings you here, the trial's over and Linguini and his family aren’t here anymore.”
“I just wanted to say hi, am I not allowed to do that now?”
“I don't know how stupid you think I am, but you should know I don't buy the idea that you're ‘just visiting’.”
“Well I am so..”
“Do you really think I trust that you’re not up to anything after what you've done? Don't think I had forgotten that Schpood.” Cynikka sighs, leaning on the door frame while Schpood stands stiff, fiddling with the gift box’s ribbon. “You know, I’m surprised Lingulini even hired you because of how shady and suspicious and self obsessed you are. I know I wouldn’t even toy with the idea, knowing the things you’d do for just a little more money.” Cynikka moves her hand to the doorknob and straightens her posture. “I'm not gonna let you ruin my life while its the best it's ever been. I’m not going to forgive you either, the best you can do is turn around and walk the other way,” Cynikka slams the door in Schpood’s face. He looks down at the gift box. After a beat Cynikka opens the door again. “Whats in there?”
“Chocola-,” before Schpood can finish answering her question, she takes the box and slams the door in his face again, the wind from the door slamming blowing his hair into his face. He fixes it, looking at his reflection in the metal doorknocker, the round metal distortion makes not the most ideal impromptu mirror. He fiddles with the patch of grey hairs near his hairline, trying to get it to swoop back juuust the right way.
Schpood takes out his BlackBerry from his pocket and calls someone up. “Are you available tomorrow…okay good…. How about your place? I'll be there by 5 sharp.”
“So what did you want to talk about?" Saparata, in his white tee and sweats asks, handing Schpood a cup of black coffee. Schpood’s in a more professional get up but not a whole suit and tie, simple collared shirt paired with dress pants and loafers. Saparata stands leaning on his kitchen counter, where Schpood sits on the living room couch.
“How well do you know Cynikka?"
"Not well, we talked like…once? It was with Flux, they were uh, ‘acquaintances’, before he got locked up.”
“You’re welcome by the way,” Schpood expects a thank you but Saparata gives him nothing. “Soooo, uh, how about you do a little favour for me?”
“What kind?”
“I just want you to uh, have a chat with her, see if there’s something off with her or her house-and I know you might be thinking. ‘Hey Schpood, isn't undercover investigations outside of your job description and isn’t vigilante work against the law?’ Well uh, yes, but money is money, and Saps if you help me you can get a cut of that sweet sweet Italian dough.”
"..But aren't you like, a lawyer? Isn't law like… isn't obeying the law like your whole thing?"
"Bold of you to assume I care about the law, I didn't truly believe in it ever since Trial by Combat was removed."
"How o-that.... that does make sense actually," he mutters the second part to himself, Schpood’s oblivious.
"Hm?"
"Nothing nothing." Saps takes a moment to remember what Schpood even said. “Wait so.. what do I need to do?"
"I just need you to visit Cynikka, and collect as much information and dirt on her as you can.”
“How would I even like, I mean shes probably going to expect somethings up if I just, appear out of the blue, especially with what you did yesterday.”
Schpood takes a sip of his coffee. Saparata takes a seat next to him. “Did Fluixon give you anything strange? Something that Cynikka could explain?” Saparata thinks, a little spark goes off in his eyes.
“..There is this one thing.” He gets up and heads into another room. Schpood waits, fiddling with his cup, seeing the coffee wobble back and forth. He looks at his reflection.
“Maybe I should go into investigation. Oh Simon I think you’ve found your new calling!" he says grinning to himself.
Saparata walks back into the living room holding a small green velvet box, he takes a seat next to Schpood. Saparata opens the velvet box, a gold necklace with a pendant, in the shape of an elongated pyramid, lays in the silk lining. He takes out the necklace, and shakes the pendant near his, then Schpood's ear. It’s hollow and there’s something hidden inside. “Gave it to me before the trial, No clue what could be in there.”
“Perhaps Cynikka knows something about it, your motive for getting in her place to talk.” Schpood gets up, Saparata gets up as well. “Lets head to my car, I have something that we'll need," he says as he leaves Saparata’s apartment. Saparata lags behind with suspicion.
Saparata follows a couple feet behind Schpood as they walk towards his car. Schpood opens up his trunk and inside are wires. Saparata tales a closer look, wired microphones, headphones, the kind of stuff you'd see in a police serial. “Where did you even, why do you have these?”
“You need to be prepared Saps.”
“Sooo uhh, are we doing this now because I have a shift in an hour or so.”
“Oh no no, I have.. things-many things to attend to, I'm very busy,” Schpood says, unconvincingly, he clears his throat.
“Yeahh uh, we can meet at the park nearby at like, 2."
"Sounds good,” Schpood closes his trunk and gets into his car. Saparata begins walking back to his apartment. Schpood rolls down the window, "Hey Saps!"
“Yeah?" Saparata stops and looks back.
Schpood hesitates, "Uh," Schpood looks away, then looks back, “nothing.” He drives off. The silence of the streets leave him alone with his thoughts. Why is he doing this anyways? Lingulini admitted to being unable to pay Cynikka in full so could he even afford what he promised? Well he can't back out now, but its possible that he wouldn't be able to later on.. but on another topic, he needs groceries! He parks his car in the lot of a grocery store.
Schpood walks along the dairy section reading the ingredients on the back of a pack of bright orange American cheese. Behind him he hears people talking, and can't help but eavesdrop.
“Micro! It’s been a while, how you doing man?”
“Hey uh, things are uh, they're going."
"Yeahh I heard what happened with your buds, rough stuff man.”
“Yeah its, its fine. Sometimes you get too ambitious and it shoots you in the foot, like Icarus or whatever it was."
"I uh, sorry to bring it up, but I did hear that you're having trouble finding a place to stay.”
“Yeahhh, the RVs gone because of everything.. its uh,” Micro lets out an silted laugh “yeah its not great.”
“I just want you to know that my doors always open if you need somewhere to stay, I’ve got uh,” the person looks through their pockets, followed by the sound of keys jingling.
“Oh uh, thanks."
"I did kind of… anticipate that I'd come across you at some point so I uh.. I got you a spare of my key juuuust in case”
“You’re very strange but I, I appreciate it a lot,” Micro pauses, “also you know you can just, admit that you miss me, right?”
“Oh come on!" the two begin to laugh. Schpood puts the cheese back, and searches for something else.
Schpood lays on his bed looking at the ceiling, he takes his phone from his nightstand and begins scrolling through his photos. The BlackBerry’s light shining brightly onto his face in the dark. He swipes towards a group photo, he focuses in on himself, a younger and stupider version of himself. His eyes move towards the left and he sees Cynikka standing beside him, the both of them smiling. He zooms out, the whole group is holding a banner that reads Yggdrasil City Council. Schpood turns off his phone, putting it on his bedside table, and grabs his blanket messily folded at the end of his bed and pulls it over him. Closing his eyes until he falls asleep.